As much of a well-loved icon the famous Harbour Town Lighthouse in Hilton Head Island is today, serving as a very symbol of the Island, this was not always the case. Its story can even be a much-needed reminder to those who have great ideas that are being dismissed or mocked by others of what can be if you push through the naysaying. It's hard to believe that we would not have this beautiful landmark in South Carolina if the detractors had been successful.
They even assigned the project a nickname, "Fraser's folly". Who's laughing now? This incredible lighthouse in Harbour Town has been visited by millions of people through the years!
Charles Fraser, a visionary and founder of Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, believed strongly that the community needed something more, a sort of marker or symbol that might give it a sense of place in people's hearts and minds. When he suggested a lighthouse, some of his close associates couldn't see what he saw, while others took his vision to heart. And we all know which group prevailed.
The reason the iconic red and white candy stripe design was chosen is because Mr. Fraser wanted it to be fun and memorable. His vision for the Sea Pines community was that it would become a type of gathering spot that would be a joyful, celebratory destination. When he began putting chairs out around the town because he wanted people to have a place to just sit, again, there was laughter.
And yet again ... no one is laughing today and his vision has become a reality, with people enjoying this laid back community where they do feel that sense of place in Harbour Town.
There are 114 steps inside the lighthouse, which you can climb to the top for gorgeous views of the Calibogue Sound from 90 feet in the air.
Weddings and special events are held at the Harbour Town Lighthouse, including fireworks on the 4th of July. Charles Fraser must have been so happy to see his vision come to life and all those naysayers proven wrong.
Have you ever heard of the story behind the Lake Murray Lock Bridge? Allow us to tell you this fascinating tale. Once upon a time, there was a young woman whose lover died in battle during World War I. Heartbroken and grief-stricken, she felt a need to show that her love for him would never fade. As she considered how in the world she could achieve this, she decided to affix a padlock to bridges in Hungary where the two lived. Sometimes they would meet at these locations for a romantic walk. As the legend goes, people took notice and others who had lost loved ones followed suit. The trend soon spread and as it moved west, it made its way to Paris and then across the ocean to a lakeside trail in South Carolina where these love locks at the Lake Murray dam are found.
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The lakeside trail that traverses across the Lake Murray dam is called the Johnny W. Jeffcoat Walkway. It's paved and is 3.6 miles out and back. The best part? The Love Lock Bridge is near me and is a lovely lakeside trail.
I highly recommend it since it is a beautiful walk around the water. I love a good peaceful waterfront lake trail and this easy trek is perfect for anyone who loves the great outdoors and lakes.
For a nominal fee, you can park to the left of this lot at the Lake Murray Public Park, which has a large beach area and swimming area plus dozens of picnic shelters, some of which can be reserved. This is one of only a few public swimming areas on the entire lake.
You could easily make a whole day trip by visiting this park and taking a walk. Bring your family and friends and have a picnic, splash in the water, and play with the kids for a great park day.
Many other people make good use of the park in this way too. It's busier at some times than others. Then other times you might have plenty of quiet space to spread out with you and your party.
The walk across the dam is a pretty one, with broad views of Lake Murray. Expect noise from those traveling by vehicle across the dam, and you'll also experience some wind coming off the water. However, as previously mentioned, this is a really pretty area with the water in plain view the whole time. With such an inviting and beautiful place, who wouldn't want to go for a stroll?
On the fencing at the Lexington side, you'll see the "love locks" at Lake Murray Dam, as they are called. The trend became most commonly associated with Paris, probably due to its reputation as the City of Romance. The Pont des Arts Bridge is even famous for being the "love lock bridge in Paris." It is fun to make the connection to the City of Romance, and I think these gestures of love are both intriguing and endearing.
The locks have not always been placed to commemorate lost love; some have been placed by newlyweds who then threw the key into the water as a gesture symbolizing love sealed forever. Others have different stories behind them. So many locks were placed on the Pont des Arts Bridge that city officials feared the bridge's structure would be damaged. The locks and the fences they were attached to were removed in 2011.
Along with the Lake Murray love locks, you'll see other items at times, such as part of an exhaust pipe, a pacifier, or this silhouette of Texas. Some of the locks are personalized in some way, such as painted over or with dates and initials etched into them. Many people over the years have left their mark and made it very personalized which makes it fun to travel along the trail and read each of the locks echings.
In 2022, the love locks tradition reached a 10-year milestone, and there are currently no plans to remove the locks. However, an effort is underway to provide people with another way to leave a legacy at the dam that will not risk compromising its structural integrity.
I think it's cool that the Capital City/ Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board recognized the natural progression of this story and wanted to add to it. People were invited to commemorate their loved ones with engraved bricks to make more lasting mementos.
As you move towards the Irmo side, the hydroelectric intake towers are an iconic view seen along the hike across the dam.
Also on the Irmo side are restrooms, a two-lane boat launch ramp, a courtesy dock, a pier for fishing, paved parking for 105 vehicles with trailers, and some parking for cars. It's much more than a spot for a beautiful hike. You could spend an afternoon or even the entire day enjoying the lake in a multitude of ways.
Did you know the story behind the love locks at the Lake Murray dam? Have you ever put a lock on the fence there? Care to share the story of your lock? Leave a comment below. If you want to take to the trail to see the Lake Murray Lock Bridge yourself, download the AllTrails app and make sure you keep track of your progress on the Lake Murray Dam Trail.
Want to find more hidden gems and must-see places throughout the state? Check out the South Carolina exploration challenge and then watch this OnlyInYourState video to learn more about it.
In 1991, Pendleton High School geography teacher Jane Cahaly attended a business and education partnership conference in Washington, D.C., where she met a group of people from Stornoway, Scotland. Little did they know that this chance meeting would result in a friendship that would still be going strong decades later, with reciprocal visits back and forth between the two towns, making Pendleton one of seven sister cities in South Carolina. Yet, that is exactly what happened, and it's a beautiful story illustrating the idea of this world we all live in being smaller than it sometimes feels.
An official sister city agreement was signed by the local town governments of both Pendleton and Stornoway in 2002.
Stornoway is the largest town in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, with a population of about 7,000 as of 2022, and Pendleton is a charming small town in the upstate county of Anderson with a population of just over 3,500 as of 2021.
Visits to Stornoway began in 1992 with a small group of Pendleton educators, including Ms. Cahaly. The group checked the town out and then brought their students for a visit a year later.
Then the following year (1994), students from Stornoway's Nicolson Institute answered with a trip to Pendleton. Both students, educators, and government officials have learned a lot from each other's culture and have also found common experiences such as the driver's license being a rite of passage growing up as well as Sundays being a quieter day with church in the morning.
Visits between the towns have been shown to have a positive impact on the local economy, with the overall estimate totaling an impressive several hundred thousand dollars for each community throughout the years!
One memorable experience for a a reporter for the Stornoway Gazette visiting Pendleton was roasting marshmallows by the fire, while for a Pendleton student visiting Stornoway, he learned quickly not to give the peace sign to someone because it holds the opposite meaning there!
Each year, Pendleton hosts a Spring Jubilee, and one of the fun highlights since this friendship began has been a performance by dancers from Stornoway's Nicolson Institute dressed in traditional Scottish kilts and argyle socks.
If you're from Pendleton and have participated in one of these visits to Stornoway, we'd love to hear about your experience in the comments section! Or perhaps you've been a part of the relationships with other sister cities in South Carolina?
